U.S. patent application number 16/918501 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-22 for integrated multiplexed photometric module and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Robert Granier, Ramin Haghgooie, Kenneth T. Kotz, Anne Celia Petrofsky.
Application Number | 20200333240 16/918501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004931132 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-22 |
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20200333240/US20200333240A1-20201022-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200333240 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haghgooie; Ramin ; et
al. |
October 22, 2020 |
INTEGRATED MULTIPLEXED PHOTOMETRIC MODULE AND METHOD
Abstract
Reusable network of spatially-multiplexed microfluidic channels
each including an inlet, an outlet, and a cuvette in-between.
Individual channels may operationally share a main or common output
channel defining the network output and optionally leading to a
disposable storage volume. Alternatively, multiple channels are
structured to individually lead to the storage volume. An
individual cuvette is dimensioned to substantially prevent the
formation of air-bubbles during the fluid sample flow through the
cuvette and, therefore, to be fully filled and fully emptied. The
overall channel network is configured to spatially lock the fluidic
sample by pressing such sample with a second fluid against a closed
to substantially immobilize it to prevent drifting due to the
change in ambient conditions during the measurement. Thereafter,
the fluidic sample is flushed through the now-opened valve with
continually-applied pressure of the second fluid. System and method
for photometric measurements of multiple fluid samples employing
such network of channels.
Inventors: |
Haghgooie; Ramin;
(Arlington, AR) ; Kotz; Kenneth T.; (Auburndale,
MA) ; Granier; Robert; (Boston, MA) ;
Petrofsky; Anne Celia; (Sudbury, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION |
Boston |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004931132 |
Appl. No.: |
16/918501 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16545550 |
Aug 20, 2019 |
10739250 |
|
|
16918501 |
|
|
|
|
16216397 |
Dec 11, 2018 |
10436704 |
|
|
16545550 |
|
|
|
|
15677459 |
Aug 15, 2017 |
10215687 |
|
|
16216397 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 3/5027 20130101;
B01L 2300/0877 20130101; B01L 2200/143 20130101; G01N 2021/0346
20130101; G01N 21/03 20130101; G01N 2021/0357 20130101; G01N 21/253
20130101; B01L 2300/0858 20130101; B01L 2300/0851 20130101; G01N
21/11 20130101; B01L 2400/0622 20130101; B01L 2200/146 20130101;
B01L 3/502723 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 21/03 20060101
G01N021/03; B01L 3/00 20060101 B01L003/00; G01N 21/11 20060101
G01N021/11; G01N 21/25 20060101 G01N021/25 |
Claims
1. A method for performing a photometric measurement, the method
comprising: temporarily stopping a flow of a first fluid sample,
passing through a first cuvette of a first microfluidic channel of
a microfluidic chip, for a first duration of time that is
sufficient to immobilize said first fluid sample, to prevent a
first displacement of said first sample with respect to the first
cuvette, and to carry out a first photometric measurement of an
analyte in said first fluid sample, wherein the microfluidic chip
contains multiple substrates integrated with one another along
their corresponding surfaces to form a stack of substrates with at
least one interface; performing said first photometric measurement
by: a) transmitting light from a first light source to a first
photodetector through the first cuvette containing said first fluid
sample that has been delivered to the first cuvette from a first
inlet through a first inlet channel that traverses said at least
one interface; and b) while said first displacement is prevented,
acquiring first data from the first photodetector, said first data
representing said analyte in the first fluid sample; and completely
removing the first fluid sample from the first cuvette through a
first outlet channel and a first fluidic valve operably cooperated
with the first outlet channel.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said temporarily
stopping includes closing the first fluidic valve in fluid contact
with the first fluid sample on one side of the first cuvette.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said completely
removing includes opening said first fluidic valve while applying
non-zero fluidic pressure to a sample interface of the first fluid
sample by bringing an auxiliary fluid in contact with said sample
interface, wherein the sample interface is located upstream with
respect to the first fluidic valve.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said temporarily
stopping includes closing the first fluidic valve that is located
downstream with respect to the first cuvette while, at the same
time, having non-zero pressure applied to an interface of the first
fluid sample as a result of an auxiliary fluid being in contact
with said interface of the first fluid sample, wherein the
interface of the first fluid sample is located upstream with
respect to the first fluidic valve, and wherein the non-zero
pressure is directed along a vector of flow of the first fluid
sample through the first cuvette.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the
following conditions is satisfied: i) wherein said having the
non-zero pressure applied includes applying said non-zero pressure
by using a second fluidic pump operably connected with said
interface of the first fluid sample; ii) wherein said having the
non-zero pressure applied includes establishing fluidic contact,
between atmosphere that surrounds the microfluidic chip and said
interface of the first fluid sample, through the first inlet
channel to cause an atmospheric pressure be present at said
interface of the first fluid sample.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising temporarily
stopping a flow of a second fluid sample through a second cuvette
of a second microfluidic channel of the microfluidic chip, for a
second duration of that that is sufficient to carry out a second
photometric measurement of an analyte in said second fluid sample,
to immobilize said second fluid sample, and to prevent a second
displacement of said second sample with respect to the second
cuvette; performing said second photometric measurement by: i)
transmitting light from a second light source to a second
photodetector through the second cuvette containing said second
fluid sample that has been delivered to the second cuvette from a
second inlet through a second inlet channel that traverses said at
least one interface; and ii) while said second displacement is
prevented, acquiring second data from the second photodetector,
said second data representing said analyte in the second fluid
sample; and wherein the first and second durations of time are
substantially equal, and wherein said first photometric measurement
and said second photometric measurement are carried out at the same
time.
7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising at least one
of the following: a) completely removing the second fluid sample
from the second cuvette through a second outlet channel and a
second fluidic valve operably cooperated with the second outlet
channel, and b) wherein said temporarily stopping the flow of the
second fluid sample includes: closing the second fluidic valve in
fluid contact with the second fluid sample on one side of the
second cuvette, and applying input pressure to the second sample by
bringing a chosen fluid in contact with the second fluid sample on
the other side of the second cuvette, said input pressure being
directed along a vector of flow of the second fluid sample through
the second cuvette.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said completely
removing the first fluid sample includes delivering the first fluid
sample through a respectively corresponding first channel, fluidly
attached to the first cuvette, into a main outlet channel, said
main outlet channel crossing said at least one interface, wherein
said delivering is carried out in a direction that is transverse to
a direction of flow of said first fluid sample through the first
cuvette.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising at least one
of the following: a) delivering the first fluid sample to the first
cuvette, said delivering including filling a fluid well with said
first fluid sample after a closure element configured to reversibly
close an aperture of the fluidic valve well has been spatially
repositioned to at least partially open said aperture; wherein said
fluid well is located upstream with respect to the first cuvette
and is fluidly connected with the first cuvette; and b) delivering
fluid samples contained in every cuvette of the microchip through a
main outlet channel to a storage volume, said main outlet channel
traversing said at least one interface.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said closure element
is configured to substantially cover an aperture of the fluid well
in a rest position and to return to the rest position once a force,
causing a spatial repositioning of the closure element, has been
removed.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said delivering the
first fluid sample to the first cuvette includes at least one of
the following: a) pushing a pipette against said closure element to
spatially reposition the closure element into the fluid well; and
b) applying a fluidic pressure to the first fluid sample delivered
to the fluid well through a multi-way fluidic valve disposed
upstream with respect to the fluid well.
12. A microfluidic device comprising: first and second substrates
integrated with one another along surfaces thereof to form a stack
of substrates; a first microfluidic channel including first inlet
portion, first cuvette portion, and first outlet portion, wherein
at least one of said first inlet and outlet portions traverses both
of said first and second substrates; a first fluidic valve in fluid
communication fluidly connected to the outlet portion; a fluidic
well disposed upstream with respect to the first cuvette portion in
fluid communication with the first inlet portion, said well having
an internal volume and an aperture connecting said internal volume
with an ambient medium surrounding the well, said well cooperated
with a closure element dimensioned to reversibly close the aperture
of the well when in a first position, and to reversibly open said
aperture in response to a force applied to the closure element.
13. The microfluidic device according to claim 12, further
comprising at least one of the following: a) a second fluidic valve
that is disposed upstream with respect to said well and configured
to deliver an auxiliary fluid into the well along a channel
connecting the second fluidic valve with the well; b) a second
microfluidic channel including a second inlet portion, a second
cuvette portion, and a second outlet portion, wherein at least one
of said second inlet and outlet portions extends across both the
first and second substrates; and c) a main outlet channel fluidly
connected to both the first and second inlet portions to receive a
fluid sample from either of said first and second cuvette
portions.
14. The microfluidic device according to claim 13, configured to
ensure that transfer of fluid through the first microfluidic
channel and transfer of fluid through the second microfluidic
channel are independent from one another.
15. The microfluidic device according to claim 13, further
comprising a storage volume in fluid communication with the main
outlet portion to receive said fluid sample from either of the
first and second cuvette portions through the main outlet
channels.
16. The microfluidic device according to claim 13, wherein said
main outlet channel penetrates both the first and second
substrates.
17. The microfluidic device according to claim 12, wherein said
first cuvette portion is dimensioned to prevent formation of an
air-bubble therein when the first fluid sample is being delivered
from the first inlet portion to the first cuvette portion.
18. The microfluidic device according to claim 12, further
comprising a second microfluidic channel including second inlet
portion, second cuvette portion, and second outlet portion, at
least one of said second inlet and outlet portions extending across
both the first and second substrates; and a storage volume in fluid
communication with the first and second outlet portions to receive
a fluid sample from either of the first and second cuvette portions
through the first and second outlet portions, respectively.
19. The microfluidic device according to claim 18, configured to
ensure that transfer of fluid through the first microfluidic
channel and transfer of fluid through the second microfluidic
channel are independent from one another.
20. The microfluidic device according to claim 12, further
comprising at least one of the following: a) a third substrate in
said stack, wherein at least two of the first, second, and third
substrates are integrated with one another via a surface sealing
layer, the surface sealing layer configured to fluidly seal a
junction, wherein said junction is formed by the at least one of
the first inlet and outlet portions traversing said at least two
substrates; and b) a light source configured to deliver a beam of
light to said first cuvette; and an optical detector disposed in
optical communication with said first cuvette such as to receive at
least a portion of said beam that has traversed the first cuvette.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of the pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 16/545,550 filed on Aug. 20, 2019 and
now published as US 2020/0003676, which is a continuation of the
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/216,397 filed on Dec. 11, 2018
and now granted as U.S. Pat. No. 10,436,704, which in turn is a
divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/677,459, filed on
Aug. 15, 2017 and now granted as U.S. Pat. No. 10,215,687. The
disclosure of each of the abovementioned applications is
incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and
methods for conducting chemical, biochemical, and/or biological
assays on a sample and, more particularly, to multiplexed optical
spectroscopy performed on samples in microfluidic chambers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Microfluidic devices and systems utilizing such devices
employ small capillaries and/or microchannels and/or cuvettes
associated or even integrated with a solid substrate to perform a
variety of operations in analytical chemical and biochemical
applications on a very small scale. The small dimensionality of
these systems facilitates sample processing (such as sample
transport, analyte enrichment, reaction rate, etc.) that uses less
reagent volume and that takes up far less laboratory or industrial
space. Microfluidic systems thus offer the potential for attractive
gains in efficiency of operation, and, consequently, substantial
economic advantages.
[0004] A variety of spectroscopic techniques can be employed in
conjunction with microfluidic devices, including those utilizing
infrared (IR) radiation, visible light, and/or ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, such as light-scattering spectroscopy, for example. In
research or industrial settings, microfluidic devices are typically
employed in biochemical or cell-based assays that use spectroscopic
detection systems to quantify labeled or unlabeled molecules of
interest. Microfluidic devices generally employ networks of
integrated microscale channels and reservoirs (with the use of
which fluid samples materials are transported, mixed, separated and
detected), and various optical systems that are embedded or
externally arranged/coordinated with such networks for optical
recognition, detection, quantification, as well as other
manipulations of the fluidic samples.
[0005] There exists an unsatisfied need in such expansion of the
assay menu capacity of a microfluidic photometric system that would
manifest in the reduction of volume of a liquid sample (required
for the photometric measurement) as well as improving the accuracy
and precision of the photometric measurement itself. Point of care
integrated blood analysis instruments and environmental monitoring
instruments are but two examples of devices that would benefit from
such expansion.
[0006] There also exists an unsatisfied need for a low per test
cost (reusable, small volume) photometry system capable of
performing a variety of biochemical assays (multiplexing) from a
single sample at the point of care. The need of operable
integration of such system with other complimentary analytical
systems such as flow cytometry system to further simplify testing
(by, for example, elimination of multiple instruments/samples),
capture economies of scale and scope (to reduce the overall cost)
and enable decision making (for example, to obtain comprehensive
test data from a single sample) remains not addressed.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for
performing a photometric measurement. The method includes the steps
of (i) transmitting light from a first light source to a first
photodetector through a corresponding first cuvette containing a
first fluid sample delivered to the first cuvette from a
corresponding first inlet; and (ii) transmitting light from a
second light source to a second photodetector through a
corresponding second cuvette containing a second fluid sample
delivered to the second cuvette from a corresponding second inlet.
The method also includes the step of acquiring data representing
the first and second fluid sample while at least one of the first
and second fluid samples is prevented from being displaced, with
respect to a respectively-corresponding cuvette, by (a) closing a
respectively-corresponding valve in fluid contact with the at least
one of the first and second fluid samples on a first side of the
respectively-corresponding cuvette, and (b) having the at least one
of the first and second fluid samples under pressure on a second
side of the respectively-corresponding cuvette, where such pressure
is formed by a second fluid in contact with the at least one of the
first and second samples. The closing of the valve may be
effectuated while a corresponding fluid sample is under the
above-specified pressure. The method further includes a step of
removing the first and second fluid samples from the first and
second cuvettes through respectively-corresponding first and second
outlets by opening respectively-corresponding valves at the first
and second outlets while maintaining the pressure. The first and
second cuvettes are dimensioned to substantially prevent a
formation of air-pockets therein while the first and second fluid
samples flow therethrough. Alternatively or in addition, the first
and second cuvettes are dimensioned to minimize
fluid-sample-to-fluid-sample carry-over due to said removing and
subsequent filling of any of the first and second cuvettes to not
materially influence results of a subsequent step of acquisition of
data representing another sample measured in the same cuvette.
[0008] Embodiments of the invention also provide a related method
for performing a photometric measurement. The method includes
temporarily stopping a flow of a first fluid sample through a first
cuvette of a first microfluidic channel of a microfluidic chip, for
a first duration sufficient to carry out a first photometric
measurement of an analyte in the first fluid sample, to immobilize
the first fluid sample and to prevent a first displacement of the
first sample with respect to the first cuvette. Here, the
microfluidic chip is structured to contain multiple substrates
integrated with one another along their corresponding surfaces to
form an interface. The method further includes carrying the
photometric measurement by:
[0009] (i) transmitting light from a first light source to a first
photodetector through the first cuvette containing said first fluid
sample that has been delivered to the first cuvette from a first
inlet through a first inlet channel that extends through the
interface; and
[0010] (ii) while the first displacement is prevented, acquiring
first data from the first photodetector, said first data
representing said first fluid sample. Furthermore, the method
includes a step of completely removing the first fluid sample from
the first cuvettes through a first outlet channel and a first
fluidic valve operably cooperated with the first outlet
channel.
[0011] Embodiments of the invention also provide a microfluidic
device that contains first and second substrates integrated with
one another along surfaces thereof to form a stack of substrates; a
first microfluidic channel including first inlet portion, first
cuvette portion, and first outlet portion (here, at least one of
said first inlet and outlet portions traverses both of the first
and second substrates); a first fluidic valve in fluid
communication fluidly connected to the outlet portion; a fluidic
well disposed upstream with respect to the first cuvette portion in
fluid communication with the first inlet portion. Here, the well
has an internal volume and an aperture or orifice connecting the
internal volume with an ambient medium surrounding the well. The
well is equipped with a flap element dimensioned to reversibly
close the aperture from inside the well when in a rest position,
and to reversibly open said aperture in response to a force applied
to the flap element from the ambient medium inwardly to the
internal volume.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will be more fully understood by referring to
the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the
Drawings, of which:
[0013] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective and plan view illustrations
of a simplified photometric microfluidic system employing a single
cuvette.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of
the integrated photometric module of the invention.
[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B are views of an embodiment, the
configuration of which facilitates formation of air-bubbles inside
a microfluidic cuvette.
[0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B are views of an embodiment which is
configured to minimize and/or eliminate formation of air-bubbles in
a microfluidic cuvette.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating schematically an embodiment
of a multiplexed fluidic network containing multiple cuvettes (each
cuvette having corresponding inlets, high-resistance outlets) and a
low-resistance main outlet channel.
[0018] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the fluidic model
representing the microfluidic network embodiment of FIG. 5.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a plot showing how the volume of the integrated
photometry module (IPM) and the required volume V.sub.S of the
undiluted sample depend from a thickness of a cuvette, for several
values of dilution ratio D.
[0020] FIG. 8 provides empirically-obtained data evidencing the
persisting signal drift and associated uncertainty of acquired data
that accompanies measurements performed with microfluidic
photometric systems in which a fluidic sample is not spatially
locked and immobilized with respect to the housing volume
containing such sample, as well as comparison with data
similarly-acquired with the use of an embodiment of the
microfluidic photometric system configured to prevent a possibility
of fluidic sample movements during the measurement.
[0021] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a concept according to
which the fluidic circuitry of an embodiment of the invention is
configured.
[0022] FIGS. 10A, 10B are schematic diagrams showing steps of
preparing a fluidic sample for photometric measurement, according
to the idea of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a flow-chart representing an embodiment of the
method of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 provides a schematic illustration of an embodiment
of a multiplexed photometer system employing external valving.
[0025] FIGS. 13A and 13B schematically illustrate an embodiment of
a multiplexed photometer system with internal valving, that has the
only, single outlet in a fluidic manifold portion of the system.
FIG. 13A: cross-sectional view of the system; FIG. 13B: top view of
the fluidic manifold portion of the system.
[0026] FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C provide schematics describing an
embodiment of a multiplexed photometer system with internal
valving, that has the only, single outlet in the photometer. FIG.
14A: cross-sectional view of the system; FIG. 14B: top view of the
multiplex photometer module of the system; FIG. 14C: top view of
the fluidic manifold portion of the system.
[0027] FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, and 15H provide
additional diagrams illustrating the structure and principle of
operation of an embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C contain plots representing results
of empirical validation of the operation of a system of an
embodiment of the invention and showing a comparison between the
measurement results acquired with embodiment(s) of the invention
and those provided by conventionally-used diagnostic equipment.
[0029] The sizes and relative scales of elements in Drawings may be
set to be different from actual size and scales to appropriately
facilitate simplicity, clarity, and understanding of the Drawings.
For the same reason, not all elements present in one Drawing may
necessarily be shown and/or labeled in another.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] In accordance with an idea of the present invention, a
microfluidic cuvette component of a network of microfluidic
channels used in a photometric module of the invention is
structured such as to be substantially completely filled and
flushed, in operation, without leaving a volume of fluid that would
substantially influence a subsequent measurement performed in the
same fluidic network. Implementations of such cuvettes are many,
including, for example, sample metering and/or conditioning. In
this case, a cuvette (also interchangeably referred to as a
chamber) is used to isolate a repeatable well defined volume of
sample for further downstream processing by, for example,
appropriately incorporating fluidic valves up-stream and
down-stream with respect to the chambers to isolate the sample
prior to processing. In another application, referred to herein as
"volume sensing", an individual cuvette or chamber (that is adapted
to be filled and emptied substantially completely) is used to
determine when a particular volume of fluid has been introduced
into the system. Such volumes sensor could be placed at the outlet
of the cuvette or chamber such that when the chamber is filled, the
sensor is triggered generating an indicator that the target volume
has been reached. Used in any of such applications, an embodiment
of the invention is configured such as to ensure that the isolated
is the cuvette volume of fluidic sample is spatially
still/fixed/immobilized with respect to a corresponding
channel/cuvette during the photometric measurement. This solution
is provided, in part, by appropriately operating a fluidic valves
on one side of the cuvette to isolate the sample from the fluidic
pressure downstream with respect to the cuvette. Alternatively, the
solution is provided by appropriately operating a fluidic valve on
one side of the cuvette while, at the same time, locking the
fluidic sample of interest in place with the use of pressure
applied (with the use of a different fluid) to a front end and/or
back end of the fluidic sample.
[0031] While the proposed cuvette element is operable and usable on
its own, a fluidic network of channels containing such fully
Tillable-and-emptied cuvettes is also implemented. The network is
adapted to operationally isolate the individual cuvettes contained
in different branches of the network, is also implemented for use
different applications including, for example, drug screening,
facilitation of multi-reagent chemical reactions, and photometric
measurements. In the case of drug screening for example, the
proposed fluidic network is adapted to differentiate among
individual cell cultures in a multiplexed cell culture sample. An
example of the fluidic network employs an array of cell culture
chambers that can be individually stimulated with different
chemicals but share a common outlet. So designed network is
configured to prevent cross-talk between the chambers, keeping each
one in isolation. In another implementation, the proposed fluidic
network facilitates multi-reagent chemical reaction processes by
isolating different components of a chemical reaction from one
another. When different branches of the fluidic network are
flushed, the reaction would be initiated only in the common waste
stream. In this manner, the order in which reagents are added to
the reaction solution are controlled, thereby facilitating the
control over the reaction products.
[0032] Related embodiments disclose examples of a microfluidic
photometric apparatus configured, according to the idea of the
invention, to take advantage, in operation, of an individual
cuvette and/or of the proposed fluidic network. An implementation
of the photometric apparatus has a multiplexed cuvette unit that is
structured for repeatable and volumetrically uniform
fill-fix-in-space-measure-flush-and-re-use operation substantially
without forming air bubbles in the cuvette while, at the same time,
providing sample aliquots with geometrical constraints defined in
such a fashion as to ensure that a pathlength of light traversing
the cuvette installed in the photometric apparatus is substantially
invariant.
[0033] References throughout this specification to "one
embodiment," "an embodiment," "a related embodiment," or similar
language mean that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the referred to
"embodiment" is included in at least one embodiment of the present
invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment,"
"in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this
specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same
embodiment. It is to be understood that no portion of disclosure,
taken on its own and/or in reference to a figure, is intended to
provide a complete description of all features of the
invention.
[0034] In addition, in drawings, with reference to which the
following disclosure may describe features of the invention, like
numbers represent the same or similar elements wherever possible.
In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are generally not
to scale, and certain components are enlarged relative to the other
components for purposes of emphasis and understanding. It is to be
understood that no single drawing is intended to support a complete
description of all features of the invention. In other words, a
given drawing is generally descriptive of only some, and not all,
features of the invention. A given drawing and an associated
portion of the disclosure containing a description referencing such
drawing do not, generally, contain all elements of a particular
view or all features that can be presented is this view in order to
simplify the given drawing and the discussion, and to direct the
discussion to particular elements that are featured in this
drawing.
[0035] A skilled artisan will recognize that the invention may
possibly be practiced without one or more of the specific features,
elements, components, structures, details, or characteristics, or
with the use of other methods, components, materials, and so forth.
Therefore, although a particular detail of an embodiment of the
invention may not be necessarily shown in each and every drawing
describing such embodiment, the presence of this detail in the
drawing may be implied unless the context of the description
requires otherwise. In other instances, well known structures,
details, materials, or operations may be not shown in a given
drawing or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an
embodiment of the invention that are being discussed. Furthermore,
the described features, structures, or characteristics of the
invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more
embodiments.
[0036] Moreover, if the schematic flow chart diagram is included,
it is generally set forth as a logical flow-chart diagram. As such,
the depicted order and labeled steps of the logical flow are
indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps
and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function,
logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the
illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed
are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are
understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various
arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow-chart
diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the
corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may
be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For
instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of
unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted
method. Without loss of generality, the order in which processing
steps or particular methods occur may or may not strictly adhere to
the order of the corresponding steps shown.
[0037] The invention as recited in the appended claims is intended
to be assessed in light of the disclosure as a whole.
[0038] Photometric and radiometric methodologies (aggregately
referred to, for the purposes of this disclosure, using such terms
as "photometry" and "photometric", which includes fluorometric
measurements such as performing immunoassays using micro
particles--Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay or CMIA--as
the antibody/analyte binding substrate) have been widely adopted as
tools for determining concentrations of analytes in both human and
animal biological samples such as, for example, blood, urine, and
saliva, to name just a few. (Photometric methods can also be used
for environmental testing. For instance, groundwater can be tested
for contamination due to various chemical species.) In vitro
diagnostic devices using photometric detection techniques have been
developed for a large variety of clinical biomarkers. In general,
there are three classes of reaction schemes for clinical assays
that are evaluated using photometric methods.
[0039] Chemical endpoint reactions involve the complete conversion
of an analyte using synthetic chemicals. The conversion results in
a change in absorbance of the sample, which is measured after the
reaction has completed. The final absorbance of the sample is
proportional to the analyte concentration. Some analytes, the
concentrations of which are determined with chemical endpoint
assays, include hemoglobin, calcium, and total protein.
[0040] Enzymatic endpoint reactions also involve the complete
conversion of an analyte, such as glucose, for example. However in
this case, the conversion is catalyzed by the presence of an
enzyme. The absorbance of the sample is, again, measured after the
reaction is completed and is proportional to the analyte
concentration. Analytes the concentrations of which are determined
with enzymatic endpoint reactions include creatinine, glucose, and
bilirubin.
[0041] Enzymatic rate reactions involve the continuous conversion
of an analyte catalyzed by an enzyme. Absorbance of a sample in
this case is monitored over time, and the rate of change of
absorbance is proportional to the concentration of an analyte.
Enzymatic rate reactions normally require tight temperature control
to ensure that the reaction rate remains constant over the course
of the measurement. Analytes the concentrations of which are
determined with enzymatic rate reactions include alkaline
phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and
chloride.
[0042] Based on Beer's law, according to which the absorption of
light in a sample is proportional to the concentration of the
analyte, the absorbance of light A.sub.X.sup..lamda. at wavelength
.lamda., caused by the presence of species X at a concentration [X]
along a path L through the sample, can be expressed as
A X .lamda. = X .lamda. [ X ] L = log 1 0 [ I 0 I ] Eq . ( 1 )
##EQU00001##
where .epsilon..sub.X.sup..lamda. is the millimolar absorptivity of
the species X at the designated wavelength. Accordingly, the
concentration of the sought-after species can be expressed as
[ X ] = log 1 0 [ I 0 I ] / ( X .lamda. L ) Eq . ( 2 )
##EQU00002##
[0043] The transmitted through the sample radiant power is
determined by integrating the light intensity transmitted by the
sample over a range of wavelengths of interest and multiplying by
the sensitivity of the detector at those wavelengths. This can be
accomplished in several ways. A broad spectrum light source may be
used with a spectrophotometer as a detector which splits the
transmitted light into component wavelengths that are individually
detected and can be read at the wavelengths of interest.
Alternatively, a narrow band wavelength light source may be used
with a single point detector to absorb all of the transmitted
light.
[0044] Generally, the terms "sample", "biological sample",
"chemical sample" and the like as used herein refer to a sample of
fluid material that is assumed to contain an analyte of interest.
For example, samples include various fluids such as various
solutions, bodily fluids (such as whole blood, serum, plasma,
cerebrospinal fluid, urine, lymph fluids), and other fluids (such
as, for example, cell culture suspensions, cell extracts, cell
culture supernatants). A sample may be suspended or dissolved in,
for example, buffers, extractants, solvents, and the like.
Additional examples of samples are provided by fluids deliberately
created for the study of biological processes or discovery or
screening of drug candidates. The latter include, but are not
limited to, aqueous samples that have been doped with bacteria,
viruses, DNA, polypeptides, natural or recombinant proteins, metal
ions, or drug candidates and their mixtures.
[0045] Conventionally, to conduct optical spectroscopic and/or
photometric analysis, a sample should be placed in a cuvette that
is used and replaced after the measurement is complete. The
currently employed microfluidic cuvettes possess shortcoming that
substantially limit their application in a multiplexed photometric
system.
[0046] Indeed, conventional large scale systems use "open" cuvettes
in which solution is directly pipetted into the cuvette (and not
flown in through a permanently connected channel). These cuvettes
are cleaned out after each use and reused with a cleaning solution
via a robotic pipette. Alternatively, conventional point of care
systems, which house the cuvette in a single use consumable, the
cuvette is discarded at each use. The embodiments of the invention
discussed below provide the solutions employing a "flow in and
through", reusable cuvette), leading to the advantage of lower
consumable cost with respect to traditional POCT photometry
systems. With respect to the open cuvette design of larger
conventional systems, the proposed below "flow through" system
eliminates the need to transport the sample to the cuvette
robotically and requires a much smaller footprint.
[0047] In addition, in a multiplexed microfluidic photometric
system adapted to perform parallel photometry measurements on
multiple, generally different analytes, a cuvette volume is an
important figures of merit. The smaller the volume of a cuvette,
the higher the degree of system and measurement multiplexing is
possible for a given "footprint" of the device and the smaller the
required sample volume. The term footprint, as used in this
disclosure, would be readily understood--unless expressly defined
otherwise--as an area of normal projection of a given component or
element of the system onto a chosen plane. In order to make
measurements of the sample reproducible, a cuvette must have a very
well-defined thickness or length (which translates to a
well-defined sample path length through the cuvette). The path
length of the cuvette determines the measurable concentration of an
analyte for the instrument. Accordingly, there is a need for a
cuvette that is configured to ensure that the corresponding sample
path length accommodates the entire range of concentrations of
interest.
[0048] In addition, a microfluidic cuvette must be configured such
that, in operation, it is completely filled with the sample at hand
without introducing air bubbles that obscure the optical path of
light used for photometric measurements. Air in the path of light
leads to light diffraction, thereby causing errors in measurement
of light absorbance.
[0049] Moreover, a cuvette is desired that lends itself to being
re-used--in contradistinction with replaceable cuvettes of the
related art devices--and, therefore, "flushed" to sufficiently
remove the just-used/measured fluid sample to ensure that no
substantial sample-carryover from one measurement to another. The
latter requirement arises from a need to ensure that no
sample-carryover contamination occurs from one measurement to the
next.
[0050] The present invention stems from the realization that the
above-mentioned industrial needs are addressed with a microfluidic
device configured to include a multiplicity of unidirectional-flux
cuvettes that share a common fluidic outlet, are devoid of valves,
are dimensioned to substantially eliminate air-bubble formation in
a flow of fluid through each of the cuvettes, and that are subject
to positive pressure facilitating substantially complete removal of
the sample residue and, therefore, use and reuse of the same
microfluidic chip.
[0051] FIGS. 1A and 1B provide perspective and plan view
illustrations of a simplified photometric microfluidic system 100
employing a single cuvette 110, providing a conveyor or container
for a fluid sample (not shown) that is interrogated with light
emanating from the light source 120. Light from the source 120
passes through a spatial mask 130 having an aperture 130A. In
reference to FIG. 1A, light propagating between the source of light
120 and the cuvette 110 along path 1 is transmitted directly
through the aperture 130A on its way to a detector 140, while light
following path 2 is shown to interact with (reflect off of) a side
of the cuvette 110. In one implementation, the source of light 120
includes a 5 mm diameter LED, the opening 130A of the approximately
0.3 mm thick mask 130 has a diameter of about 1.5 mm, a chamber of
the cuvette 110 has a diameter of about 2 mm and thickness of about
1 mm, while the area of the detector 140 is about 1 mm.sup.2.
[0052] As another preliminary matter, FIG. 2 provides an exploded
perspective view of a simplified embodiment of a photometry module
(IPM) according to an embodiment 200 of the invention that employs
a multiplicity of individually addressable cuvettes 210 (at least
some of which may be similar to the cuvette 110 of FIGS. 1A, 1B).
The cuvettes 210, configured for multiplexed photometry
measurements, are disposed in association with a polymeric chip 212
and share a common waste outlet, while each of the individual
cuvettes 210 includes a circularly-shaped chamber, as discussed in
detail below. The IPM cuvette-chip 212 is housed in association
with an aluminum housing 220A, 220B that is used as a heat sink to
maintain a constant temperature of the system. The system 222
(including the chip 212 and the sink elements 220A, 220B) is heated
with Peltier heaters 224 located, as shown, around the exterior of
the aluminum heat sink housing 220A, 220B. The temperature of the
system is monitored with a resistance temperature detector 226
(RTD) located within the bounds of the heat sink 220A, 220B in
contact with the polymeric chip 212. A feedback control loop (not
shown) is employed to maintain the system at a constant
temperature.
[0053] The heat sink 220A, 220B (with all the enclosure thereof) is
disposed inside a plastic housing 230A, 230B configured to insulate
the system from the environment. A circuit board 240 containing an
array of photodiodes 244 (such as, for example, an array of
individual single-point photodiodes in T 13/4 packages) is mounted
on one side of the plastic housing. In one implementation, the
number N of photodiodes equals that of the cuvettes 210. The
photodiodes may have, for example, square detectors with active
areas of about 1 mm.times.1 mm and be protected by flat optical
windows. A complementary circuit board 250 containing a
corresponding number N of narrow-band (or substantially
single-wavelength) LEDs 254 in T 13/4 packages with lensed tops is
mounted on the other side of the plastic housing 230A.
[0054] As an option, a spatial mask (such as the mask 130 of FIGS.
1A, 1B, for example) can be used to limit the area of light
incident on the detectors 244 from the light source 254 through the
cuvettes 210. In one embodiment, a substantially opaque at the
wavelength(s) of interest mask layer can be sandwiched between the
cuvette chip 112 and the aluminum heat sink portion 220A such as to
have the apertures spatially aligned with the individual cuvettes
210.
Optimization of a Single-Cuvette-and-Channel Geometry
[0055] It is appreciated that optimization of the operation of a
microfluidic system depends, at least in part, on the ability of a
user to utilize a sample of a limited volume. To achieve such
optimized operation, the volume of the cuvette should not contain
`dead space` that is filled with the substance of the sample but is
not taking part in a photometric measurement. The required
operational footprint of the cuvette, which facilitates elimination
of such `dead space`, relates to the area of the photodetector used
for photometric measurements. In other words, the cuvette should be
dimensioned such that every portion of light collected by the
photodetector has passed through the cuvette and that path length
of such light through the cuvette is substantially the same for any
portion of the collected light. If this condition is not observed,
the background noise associated with the measurement is increased
and the measurements system will have reduced sensitivity at the
lower end of the sample-concentration range.
[0056] Another factor restricting configuration of a photometric
system is a path length, for light propagating from a source of
light through the sample being measured to a detector. Typical
microfluidic photometric systems are structured to ensure that such
path length is on the order of 1 cm. Some point-of-care blood
analysis instruments, however, may be configured to utilize path
lengths as small as a few hundred microns.
[0057] In further reference to FIG. 2, the entire operational
volume V.sub.sys of a multiplexed photometric system is calculated
as
V.sub.SYS=NAL+V.sub.C Eq. (3),
where N is the number of cuvettes 210, A is the required area
(footprint) of a single cuvette, L is the thickness of a single
cuvette, and V.sub.C is the volume of a network of channels adapted
to provide feeding of the sample to the cuvettes 210 and removal of
the waste from the cuvettes (and referred to as feeder-waste
channel network, for simplicity). The concentration of a diluted
sample is given by
[X]=[X].sub.S(1+D) Eq (4),
Where the concentration of an undiluted sample is [X].sub.S and the
dilution ratio of the sample assay is defined as D. Based on Eqs.
(1) and (4),
A.sub.X.sup..lamda.=.epsilon..sub.X.sup..lamda.[X].sub.1L.sub.1=.epsilon-
..sub.X.sup..lamda.[X].sub.2L.sub.2 Eq. (5A)
[X].sub.2=[X].sub.1(L.sub.1/L.sub.2) Eq. (5B)
and, in order to maintain a value of sample absorbance that remains
invariant as the cuvette thickness changes, the dilution ratio D
must also change as a function of the thickness of the cuvette:
D.sub.2=(L.sub.2/L.sub.1)(1+D.sub.1)-1 Eq. (6)
[0058] If the overall operational volume of the system is equal to
the volume of the diluted sample, the volume V.sub.S of the
undiluted sample corresponding to the entire operational volume
V.sub.sys is determined as
V.sub.SYS=V.sub.S(1+D) Eq. (7)
Assuming that a pathlength of light and the sample dilution ratio,
corresponding to a chosen reference measurement method, are L.sub.R
and D.sub.R, respectively, the required volume V.sub.S of the
undiluted sample is determined, from Eqs. (3), (5A, 5B), (6), and
(7), to be reciprocal to the cuvette thickness L:
V.sub.S=L.sub.R(NAL+V.sub.C)/(L+LD.sub.R) Eq. (8)
[0059] Overall, the minimum operational value of the cuvette
thickness is determined both by the necessity to measure the lowest
concentration analyte (at the dilution ratio of the assay) and by
the availability of the sample to be measure. As the cuvette
thickness decreases, the necessary sample dilution ratio for an
assay decreases. If the dilution ratio of the sample is too low,
there may not be enough volume of sample to fill a multiplexed
cuvette system.
[0060] Geometry of an entrance portion of the microfluidic network
(for example, a feeder channel that leads to the cuvette) and that
of an exit portion of the network (a waste channel following the
cuvette) are additional factors defining the efficiency of
operation of the microfluidic system.
[0061] In reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, to ensure that no
air bubbles are trapped and/or present in a cuvette filled with the
substance of the sample and that the fluid flowing through the
cuvette maintains a continuous streamline along the wall, a surface
defining a wall of the cuvette must be sufficiently smooth and
define a tangent described by a continuous function. In a specific
embodiment, a wall of the cuvette is defined by a surface that is
differentiable (that is, has a derivative) at any point along the
wall.
[0062] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate, not to scale, top and side
views, respectively, of an embodiment 300 of a microfluidic network
portion including a feeder channel 302, a cuvette 304 with a wall
306, and a waste channel 308. In order to reduce the `dead` volume,
the fluidic channels that feed and empty the cuvette should be as
small as possible. The cuvette 304 has an approximately rectangular
profile defined by a substantially step-like transitions between a
chamber of the cuvette 304 and the feeder/waste channels 302, 308
in a cross-sectional plane that is parallel to both the main
direction 310 of fluid sample flow and the direction of propagation
of light (shown as axis z in FIG. 3B). In particular, the
transition angle A.sub.T between the wall 306 and the bottom 312 of
the cuvette 302 is substantially 90.degree.. In contradistinction
to the embodiment of FIGS. 3A, 3B, FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an
embodiment 400 the corresponding transitional angle A.sub.T of
which, defined by a non-zero-length T.sub.1 transition between the
feeder channel 302 and the bottom 312 of the cuvette, is obtuse to
define a ramp-surface or wall 416, inclined with respect to the
bottom surface 312. Accordingly, the transition between the feeder
or inlet channel 302 and the cuvette 404 includes an entrance ramp
region 406A. In one implementation, a minimum transition angle
A.sub.T of about 144.degree. between a wall in transition region
and the bottom of the cuvette ensures that neither bubbles nor
stagnant fluid are trapped in the corners and/or by the edges of
the cuvette 404 (the upper limit for this transition angle is,
understandably, 180 degrees.) Similarly, the embodiment 400 can be
adapted to contain an optional exit ramp region 406B, the
transition length of which is denoted T.sub.2 and which has a
corresponding transition angle (not shown in FIG. 4B)
[0063] It is appreciated that the smaller the microfluidic channels
of the device, the more such channels are susceptible to clogging
with the substance of the sample being measured. It is also
appreciated that should an optimal channel size and/or dimension be
chosen, such size/dimension will substantially minimize the total
volume of the system.
[0064] In either of FIGS. 3A and 4A, the circular dashed line 350
identified the area or footprint, of the corresponding cuvette 304,
404, that is required to ensure that all light leaving the source
and reaching the detector has passed through the cuvette (and thus
the sample). The dashed line 352 defines a parallelogram
corresponding to tangents to fluidic cuvette walls.
[0065] According to an embodiment of the invention, the spatial
rate of widening of the microfluidic network at the entrance of the
cuvette, at the transition region between the inlet portion and the
cuvette, is sufficiently low to ensure that the fluid sample
proximate to the wall of the cuvette doesn't separate from the wall
and form bubbles near the edges of the cuvette. For example, the
fluid sample may be controlled using a boundary layer or surface
tension effects. This spatial rate of widening of the transition
portion is defined, for example, by an angle of widening A.sub.W
formed by a wall in the transition region with respect to an axis
of at least one of the inlet and outlet portions; the value of
A.sub.W is smaller than a threshold angle value .theta.. If, as
illustrated in FIG. 3A, such angle A.sub.W between the wall 306 and
the direction of the flow 310 exceeds the operationally
corresponding threshold value .theta., the nature of interaction
between the fluid stream in the separation zone 316 and the wall
306 is likely to promote formation of the bubbles 320 (region B in
FIG. 3A) in the cuvette 304B. In contradistinction with the
embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B,
having a cuvette 404 that is characterized by A.sub.W<.theta.,
does not promote formation of the bubbles. In one embodiment, the
value of the threshold angle .theta. is about 36 degrees and,
therefore, 0.ltoreq.A.sub.W.ltoreq.36.degree.. In another
embodiment, the value of the threshold angle is about 30 degrees
and 0.ltoreq.A.sub.W.ltoreq.30.degree., and in an alternative
embodiment the value of the threshold angle is about 25 degrees and
0.ltoreq.A.sub.W.ltoreq.25.degree.. In a specific case when
A.sub.W.about.0.degree. and the depth of the feeder channel 302
approximately equals to the depth of the cuvette 304, 404 (not
shown), there is substantially no potential for trapping air
bubbles or leaving stagnant fluid at the bottom of the cuvette.
[0066] Furthermore, an embodiment of the IPM of the invention (such
as the IPM 200 of FIG. 2, for example) is optionally equipped with
a unit providing a positive air flow through the microfluidic
network including the cuvettes 210, and each of the cuvettes 210 is
adapted to ensure that there are no `stagnant` areas in the cuvette
in which the residue of the fluid sample remain after the cuvette
has been flushed with air. Accordingly, and in further reference to
FIGS. 4A, 4B, the radius 408 of curvature defined by a cuvette wall
410 in a cross-sectional plane that contains the axis 310 of fluid
flow and that is substantially normal to the optical axis (locally
defined as z-axis) should be maximized. In one example, where the
footprint of the cuvette of about 2 mm (as defined by the dashed
circle 350) implies a maximum radius of curvature of about 1 mm for
the channel walls in the middle of the cuvette region
(approximately at a mid-point between the inlet 302 and outlet 308
of the cuvette).
Optimization of a Multiple-Cuvette-and-Channel Multiplexed
Geometry
[0067] Embodiments of the invention employ reusable microfluidic
chips or elements that combine, in a spatially multiplexed fashion,
multiple individual cuvettes each of which is adapted for a
designated unique type of measurement. For example, multiple
individual cuvettes on the same chip may be used for
contemporaneous measurements of the same type of sample the
concentration of which is different in different cuvettes. In a
related example, multiple individual cuvettes on the same chip may
be used for contemporaneous measurements of samples of different
types or nature (for example, samples containing different
analytes). In either case, to use the smallest possible volume of a
sample in an individual cuvette, the `dead` volume of such cuvette
is minimized, as mentioned above. A person of skill in the art will
appreciate that the required operational independence of the
individual but structurally-multiplexed cuvettes from one another
begs a question of how to preclude different sample aliquots in
different individual cuvettes from mixing with one another and, by
virtue of such mixing, introducing an error in the measurements. In
addition to one fluid mixing with another, one should also
appreciate the need to overcome filling and cleaning of individual
cuvettes independently due to the varying time constraints of each
assay (reaction/incubation times) with respect to sample processing
logistics in a multiplexed system.
[0068] This requirement becomes even more stringent if another
requirement is imposed to not remove the reusable microfluidic chip
from the photometric apparatus between immediately sequential
measurements.
[0069] Put differently, the complexity of these problems can be
phrased as achieving the operational multiplexing of cleanable
cuvettes on the same (optionally non-removable from the photometric
apparatus) chip, while (i) minimizing the number of necessary
fluidic connections on the chip, to reduce the overall footprint of
the chip and the `dead` volume of the cuvettes and (ii) ensuring
that samples in individual cuvettes are substantially isolated from
one another. According to an embodiment of the invention, a
solution to this complex of problems is provided by merging the
individual outlet channels of individual cuvettes into a common
outlet for the overall multiplexed system of cuvettes. The
following discussion is provided in reference to FIG. 5 providing a
diagram of an embodiment 500 of a multiplexed microfluidic chip for
use with an embodiment of the photometric apparatus of the
invention.
[0070] Sample Isolation.
[0071] The embodiment 500 shows an example of multiplexing of
individual microfluidic elements each of which includes a
corresponding input channel or inlet 502(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i,
j), a cuvette 504(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j), and a
corresponding individual output or outlet 508(a, b, c, d, e, f, g,
h, i, j). For simplicity of illustration, only some of the
above-mentioned elements are labeled in FIG. 5. The individual
inlets 502a through 502j serve a purpose of operational isolation
of individual cuvettes 504a through 504j so that different samples
in these cuvettes do not contaminate one another. For simplicity of
the fluidic manifold that will distribute and return samples, the
individual outlets 508a through 508j are merged to and share a
common chip outlet 516. To operationally isolate the samples in the
cuvettes 504a through 504j, the fluidic resistance of the
individual cuvette outlets 508a through 508j must be sufficient to
ensure that pressurized fluid in the main outlet channel 516 flows
out of the device (along the arrow 518) through the common outlet
rather than back, up-the-stream through another cuvette (for
example, through the outlet 508a towards the cuvette 504a). The
fluidic path length corresponding to an individual outlet channel
508a through 508j must be sufficiently long to prevent diffusive
mixing of the samples in individual cuvettes 504a through 504j.
[0072] In reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing examples of two
schemes describing the fluidic model of the embodiment 500 of FIG.
5, the fluidic resistance RI of the individual outlets 508a through
508j is, in one implementation, approximately 2 to 3 orders of
magnitude higher than the resistance values R2 of segments 524ab,
524cd, 524ef, 524gh, and 524ij, of the main outlet channel 516,
that are located between the cuvette pairs (504a, 504b), (504c,
504d, (504e, 5040, (504g, 504h), and (504i, 504j), respectively. In
one implementation, the ratio of the resistance values R1/R2 is
about a number of the individual cuvettes in the embodiment or
higher. In different implementations, the ratio of resistance
values R1 and R2 may range between about 200 and about 10,000.
Furthermore, the entire measurement system, which includes the
embodiment 500, is preferably a closed system with no air in any
line in order to prevent residual flows. If there is any air in the
system, it will compress during pressurization of the system and
then when the system is de-pressurized, the air will expand causing
residual flows which can lead to sample contamination. The nodes
N.sub.i within the system of FIG. 6B represent the locations at
which the fluidic pressure is approximately the same.
Examples
[0073] In one implementation, and in further reference to FIGS. 2,
4A, 4B, and 5, an individual cuvette in a multiplexed chip 212, 500
used in the IPM 200 has a footprint defined by a circle with a
diameter of about 2 mm. FIG. 7 is a plot showing a volume of the
required undiluted sample as a function of the cuvette thickness
and the reference dilution ratio, according to Eq. (8). According
to FIG. 7, a cuvette with thickness of about 1 mm optimizes the
reduction of the `dead` volume of the overall microfluidic
component system while maintaining, at the same time, an undiluted
sample volume below about 0.02 mL. Therefore, FIG. 7 provides an
illustration to an embodiment in which the operation of the
multiplexed microfluidic chip 212, 500 is optimized for the
cuvettes having thickness of about 1 mm. In the example of FIG. 7,
the entrance channels (302, 502a through 502j of the cuvettes (404,
504a through 504j) each have a depth of about 1 mm and a width of
about 0.5 mm. The transition angle A.sub.T corresponding to the
individual inlet transition area 406A is chosen to be about
180.degree., as discussed in reference to FIG. 4B. Each of the
individual inlets (302, 502a through 502j) expands into the
corresponding cuvette (404, 504a through 504j) at an angle A.sub.W
of about 32.degree., as discussed in reference to FIG. 4A. The
walls of an individual cuvette have a curvature radius 408 of about
1 mm. The individual exit channels (308, 508a through 508j) have a
width of about 0.25 mm, a depth of about 0.05 mm, and a length of
about 26 mm. The transition region 406B from an individual cuvette
area to the corresponding exit channels (308, 508a through 508j)
has a length T.sub.2 of about 1.9 mm. The transition angle A.sub.T
corresponding to the outlet transition region 406B is chosen to be
about 153.degree.. The main outlet channel 516 has a depth of about
0.25 mm and a width of about 0.5 mm. The distance between pairs of
individual outlet channels along the length of the main outlet
channel is about 5.4 mm.
[0074] In one implementation, and referring again to FIG. 2, the
IPM 200 is operated as follows. The entire system is heated to
approximately 37.degree. C. (for example, for about 5 minutes)
until a steady state is reached. Once the temperature of the system
is stabilized, a dark reference voltage is measured for each
detector 244 by determining the voltage corresponding to each
detector when the respectively corresponding LED 254 is turned off.
The IPM 200 is initially empty (contains air) prior to any
measurement. Blank solutions are pre-loaded into a sample manifold
(not shown in FIG. 2). The manifold is connected to the plastic
cuvette with 3''-6'' long rigid tubing (such as, for example, the
one by PEEK, 1/32'' OD, 0.015'' ID) followed by 3''-6'' long
flexible tubing (such as that of Tygon, 0.06'' OD, 0.02'' ID). The
manifold is pressurized to about 1 bar and the blank solutions flow
into their respective cuvettes. The flow is stopped by venting the
manifold to atmospheric pressure when liquid begins to flow out of
the outlet tube (in one example, in about 5 to 15 seconds). The
system is then closed by clamping the flexible tubing to ensure
that there are no air pockets in the system (such as the head space
in the manifold).
[0075] The transmission of light through the blank solution in a
single cuvette is measured by turning on the LED 254, corresponding
for that cuvette, waiting for a short period of time (such as 5 ms,
for example), recording the voltage of the photodetector 244,
turning off the LED 254, and waiting for another period of time
(for example, 200 ms). This process is repeated three times and the
average detector voltage for that cuvette is determined. The dark
reference voltage for that detector is subtracted from the average
voltage and the result is recorded. The process is repeated for
each of the ten cuvettes in series.
[0076] Once the blank solutions have been measured, the sample
vials are removed from the manifold and tubing is unclamped. The
manifold is again pressurized to 1 bar and the system is flushed
with air until all of the liquid is removed (for about 5 to 15
seconds). The samples are then loaded into the manifold in the same
manner as the blank solutions.
[0077] The transmission of light through the samples is measured in
the same manner as for the blank solutions. The absorbance of the
samples is determined by calculating the logarithm of the ratio of
the transmittance value corresponding to the blank solution to the
transmittance value of the sample (corrected with the dark
reference value, as already described).
[0078] For endpoint reactions, three measurements are taken for
each sample and the averaged absorbance value is used to calculate
the sample concentration. For rate reactions, the absorbance of the
sample is continuously monitored (the system cycles through all of
the cuvettes until stopped) and the rate of change of absorbance is
used to determine the sample concentration.
[0079] The IPM embodiment 200 of FIG. 2, structured as described
above in reference of FIG. 7, requires at least 0.02 mL of the
fluid sample (for example, blood, serum, saliva diluted with
reagent and/or buffer) to operate. In order to make accurate
measurements of sample absorbance, the liquid sample in any given
cuvette must not be contaminated by other samples. This means there
can be no residual flows in the system. The tube clamping described
in the previous section takes care of this requirement.
[0080] For enzymatic rate reactions, the sample and reagent are
mixed outside the system at a temperature significantly lower than
the chose steady-state temperature of operation (which, in the
provided example, is about 37 C) in order to suppress the enzymatic
rate reaction. When the sample is flown into the cuvette, it is
warmed to 37 C as quickly as possible in order to make an accurate
constant rate measurement. Assay chemistries for this system should
preferably be adapted to be compatible with that process
workflow.
[0081] In order to make accurate sample measurements, the LEDS 254
and corresponding electronic circuitry are configured to ensure
that the output LED intensity does not drift over time. In
particular, the duty cycles (on time/cycle time) of the operation
of the LEDs 254 are chosen to be low enough to ensure that the LED
intensity doesn't drift. In one example, the reported operation of
`5 ms on/200 ms off` satisfies this requirement for all of the LEDs
currently used in the IPM system 200.
[0082] As was already alluded to above, one of the problems
persistently accompanying the operation of a microfluidic
photometry module during the measurement is a drift (or spatial
shift, or repositioning) of a fluidic sample housed in a volume
through which light, used for measurement, is passed between the
source of light and the optical detector (such as a cuvette portion
of the microfluidic channel). While one might expect that, under
some circumstances (and depending on assay chemistry), capillary
forces would help maintaining the volume of the fluidic sample
firmly in place, the fact that at least one of the front and back
ends or interfaces of the fluidic sample in the channel is
conventionally left in its natural state (or free, or unattended)
allows for minute movements of the sample caused by any disturbance
occurring in the ambient media surrounding the sample during the
measurement. Alternatively or in addition, minute movements of the
sample filling the cuvette may also be caused by differences in
pressure levels on opposite sides of the sample (up- and downstream
with respect to the cuvette). Such movements or drift occurs at
amplitudes practically sufficient to perturb the measurement and
cause such uncertainty of the results that often shed a doubt on
accuracy and/or repeatability of the measurement.
[0083] It would be appreciated from further disclosure, that
implementation of the embodiments of the invention increases the
quality and reliability of photometric, fluorometric (for example,
chemiluminescent), and turbidimetric analyses of sample to
determine concentration of analyte(s) (in a non-limiting
example--for in vitro diagnostic to determine concentrations of
specific analytes in a blood sample). Specifically, embodiments of
the invention advantageously improve the quality of multiple
photometric and/or turbidimetric and/or fluorometric (for example,
chemiluminescent) measurements that have to be performed in the
same cuvette of the same chosen channel of the channel network,
requiring the system to have both inlet and outlet portions of the
channel so that multiple samples can be allowed to flow through.
Two examples of such a requirement are: 1) a situation when the
cuvette is reused for testing of multiple samples; and 2) when a
calibrant is measured in the same cuvette prior to measuring the
sample of interest. It has been observed, in practice, that flow
through the cuvette(s) is susceptible to residual flow created by
differences in pressure upstream and/or downstream of the cuvette
and/or capillary forces, and that this residual flow detrimentally
affects the analysis of the sample. The observed effect is of
particular importance in the case of assays that have to be
maintained at a specific temperature (and/or within a specific
temperature range) within the cuvette--such as is the case, for
example, with enzyme catalyzed reactions. Furthermore, in case when
multiplexed configurations of microfluidic channels are employed
that connect, downstream, to a common waste collection reservoir
(storage volume), it may be required to temporarily isolate one
portion of the overall system from another to prevent the fluidic
pressure in one of the channels from influencing the fluid flow in
other channels. Notably, in some cases, in the same network of
channels, it may be important to ensure that any combination of
analyses (photometry, turbidity, chemiluminescence) can be
performed simultaneously.
[0084] Empirically-procured evidence of such
seemingly-insignificant problem is provided by FIG. 8, where the
photometrically-acquired optical data representing absorbance of
the sample ("absorbance units") are plotted as a function of time.
The plots presented in this Figure illustrate two situations: the
one often occurring during the conventionally-configured
photometric measurement (that is, without a precaution of "locking"
the sample in place), and the other corresponding to the
implementation carried out according to the idea of the invention
(that is, with the fluidic sample "locked" in its position to avoid
the drift caused by external disturbances and/r changes of
environment, as will be discussed in detail below). The first
situation is represented by the group 810 experimental curves, each
of which exhibits a sharp transition such as transition 820A of the
curve 820, during which the fluidic sample being measured
experiences a minute spatial drift disturbing and changing the
reading at the optical detector. The second situation is
represented by the group 830 of the curves, each of which exhibits
a clearly monotonic, differentiable behavior. As will be readily
appreciated by a skilled artisan from the discussion below, the
drastic change in reliability of the measurement is caused by the
implementation of the idea of the invention.
[0085] Considering the miniscule amounts/volumes of fluidic samples
that the described above embodiments of the invention are capable
of measuring, such drifts or shifts (see transition 820A of curve
820) present a problem that begs a reliable solution. According to
the idea of the invention, the fluidic sample--once positioned in a
cuvette in a fashion appropriate for photometric measurement--is
spatially locked or fixed or immobilized in its position by
intentionally preventing a possibility of either of its front or
back interfaces to move. This is achieved by using a fluidic valve
at an identified point on one side of the sample to prevent the
sample from moving pass such identified point and to isolate the
downstream compressive fluid (gas, liquid) from the sample during
the measurement. In a related embodiment, this achieved by using a
fluidic valve at an identified point on one side of the sample to
prevent the sample from moving past such identified point while, at
the same time, applying a fluidic pressure to the other, remaining
end/interface of the sample. The latter can be carried out with,
for example, a flow of gas passed through a given channel of the
network of the microfluidic channels in the direction of
propagation of the fluid-sample-being-measured through the system.
In a related embodiment, however, the system may be appropriately
configured to employ a flow of liquid.
[0086] A person of skill in the art will readily appreciate that
the components and/or elements of the system and the overall system
itself generally can be and are intended to be implemented not
necessarily in a single, common for all components/elements
structural layer of the system. In one example, multiple
microfluidic channels of the overall network of channels may be
disposed in a single substrate (and even in a single plane of such
substrate), such as in the case already discussed in reference to
FIG. 5, for example. In a related case, however, as discussed
below, the operability and efficiency--as well as cost--of the
overall system are increased by purposefully and intentionally
extending different elements of the system (such as different
portions of the microfluidic network) into and/or through multiple
substrates and/or planes--often transverse to one another and
generally made of different materials--in a fashion that allows for
substantial minimization of a footprint of a given microfluidic
chip.
[0087] Outlets of individual, constituent channels of the network
of microfluidic channels of the system (such as an outlet portion
of the channel, through which the already-measured fluidic sample
is propagated from the cuvette) may be structured to lead to a main
outlet channel (contained within the same chip carrying the network
of channels and shared by multiple individual constituent channels,
by analogy with the structure illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A). The
system may be further configured such as to direct the main outlet
channel to a storage volume collecting used/measured fluidic
samples. Alternatively or in addition, such storage volume can be
formed in direct contact (be permanently integrated) with the chip
containing the network of channels (for example, be formed on a
substrate already carrying at least a portion of the network of
channels). In a related embodiment, however, the storage volume--if
present--is formed on an independent piece of material that is not
inseparably integrated with a portion of the microfluidic network
but, to the contrary, is disposed on a hardware component that can
be removed from the system on its own (to be disposed of, for
example).
[0088] Putting aside, for a moment, the specific description of how
the components of the network of microfluidic channels are oriented
with respect to one another, the concept of locking the fluidic
sample in place to avoid a drift of the sample during the
measurement can be illustrated with the schematic of FIG. 9. Here,
a plurality of constituent channels 910, 920, 930 are shown, each
having a corresponding inlet portion 910A, 920A, 930A and a
corresponding outlet portion 910B, 920B, 930B, with a corresponding
cuvette portion 910C, 920C, 930C in between. In this example, the
cuvette portions 910C, 920C, 930C are shown to be formed on a
dedicated substrate 940 (which may or may not be the same substrate
that carries at least one of the inlet and outlet portions, too).
The outlet portions 910B, 920B, 930B are shown to lead to an area
950 (which, depending on the specific implementation may be a main
outlet channel leading, in turn, to the storage volume, or a
storage volume itself). Arrows in FIG. 9 indicate a direction of
flow of fluidic sample(s) through corresponding channel(s) during
the operation of the photometric system of the invention. As
schematically shown, fluidic valves 960, 970, 980 are used on one
side of channel(s)--shown, in FIG. 8, downstream from the cuvettes
910C, 920C, 930C--to reversibly block path(s) for sample(s) moving
along the channel(s). Once the movement of a given fluidic sample
down a given channel is stopped by closing a corresponding valve,
the locking of the sample in place is further effectuated by
pressuring the channel at the other side with respect to the
corresponding cuvette.
[0089] The principle of preparation of a given microfluidic channel
for a photometric measurement of the fluidic sample contained
therein, arranged according to an embodiment of the invention, is
further illustrated in reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B. Here, for
simplicity of illustration, only one of the channels of FIG. 9 is
considered and shown in side view. With the downstream valve 960
open, fluid (for example, gas) pressure 1010 is applied to the
back, tailing interface of the fluidic sample 1020 in the inlet
910A to force the sample 1020 through the cuvette 910C and the
valve 960. The fluidic pressure can be formed with the use of, for
example, a pump that is appropriately connected to the inlet 910A
upstream with respect to the cuvette 910C. Prior to taking the
analytical measurement, the photometric system (some of principal
components of which are shown here as a light source 1030, and
optical aperture 1040, and an optical detector 1050)\ is used to
detect the progress of the front interface of the fluidic sample
1020 towards the valve 960. Referring no to FIG. 10B, once the
front end 1020A of the fluidic sample 1020, pushed from the back
with the pressure front 1010, passes through the valve 960, the
valve is shut to prevent any further forward drift/repositioning of
the sample 1020 while, at the sample time, the fluidic pressure
1010 applied to the back end 1020B of the sample 1020 is maintained
to prevent the repositioning of the end/tail interface of the
sample 1020 on the other side of the cuvette 910C. The volume of a
sample contained, under such conditions, between the interfaces
1020A, 1020B defines the sample volume used for a photometric
measurement; it is preferred to dimension the channel and/or valve
and/or pressure applied to the tailing interface of the sample in
such a fashion as to minimize this volume. One guideline for
minimization of the sample volume may be to minimize the distance
between the valve and the cuvette portion of the channel.
[0090] Referring again to FIG. 10B, several modalities can be used
for real-time determination of the position of the fluid front
interface 1020A of the sample 1020 downstream of the valve 960,
according to an embodiment of the invention. For example, the front
1020A can be localized with the use of optical detection (based on
absorption, refraction, or scatter of light, directed to a point
downstream of the valve and the use of an external optical
detection unit). Alternatively or in addition, the propagation
and/or location of the front 1020A pass the valve 960 can be
determined with the use of electrical detection by measuring the
impedance value, for example. Alternatively or in addition, the
mechanical methods can be used as well such as the determination of
pressure with the transducer-containing module in operable
communication with a portion of the microfluidic channel and/or
employ of a limit-switch, as may be known in the art. The use of
predetermined parameters of process variable (such as fluidic
pressure 1010 and time) is further made to drive the sample 1020
beyond the valve after the feedback signal is detected by the
appropriate sub-system of the photometric system.
[0091] FIG. 11 contains a schematic chart representing some of the
steps of a method of the invention. A person of skill will
appreciate that an embodiment of the method contains at least some
of the following processing elements. At step 1110, fluidic
pressure is applied to the tailing end of the fluidic sample in a
channel to move the sample towards the cuvette. At 1120 (and in
further reference to FIG. 10A), the optical system of the
photometric module is used to observe the filling of the cuvette
with the fluidic sample and/or to confirm that that cuvette has
been filled without the formation of air-bubble within the cuvette.
The continually-applied to the tail interface of the sample
pressure is then used to move a portion of the spatially-continuous
sample pass the cuvette through the downstream valve, 1130. Once
the front interface of the sample is observed to have moved pass
the valve, the valve is closed at 1140 to ensure that the sample
can no longer move in the forward direction while, at the same
time, the tailing interface of the sample is maintained under the
fluidic pressure directed downstream to prevent the sample from
moving backward and to avoid a spatial drift or repositioning of
the sample due to a change of ambient conditions. (In a related
implementation, however, it may be possible to remove the upstream
pressure of the system once the downstream valve is closed, while
preventing the backflow of the fluid. It may be preferred to retain
the stored energy of the upstream pressure for efficiency of
operation of the overall system).
[0092] The so-fixed-in-place fluidic sample is then subjected to
the photometric measurement at 1150 to determine sought-after
parameter(s) as discussed above. Upon the conclusion of the
analytical measurement, the valve is opened at 1160 to allow for
the forward movement of the sample out of the cuvette and pass the
valve under the fluidic pressure applied to the tailing end of the
sample. During the ridding 1170 of the portion of the channel
(e.g., cuvette) of the fluidic sample, the parameters of the
fluidic pressure applied to the tailing end of the sample may be
judiciously modified to ensure that such channel portion is
completely emptied.
[0093] The process of handling a fluidic sample upon its
propagation through the network of microfluidic channels and
photometric measurement of analyte(s) contained in the sample can
be effectuated with the use of several embodiments of the
microfluidic chip carrying such network. The valve(s) of the
embodiments may be generally arranged as external valve(s) (that
is, arranged externally to the overall, whole network of channels
such as to control the fluid flow through a main outlet channel
that is common to or shared by individual outlet portions of
constituent channels of the network). Alternatively, the valve(s)
can be arranged as internal valve(s) (that is, valve(s) governing
the fluidic flow through outlet portions of individual constituent
channels of the network. Further below, three related non-limiting
examples of so configured embodiments are discussed in reference to
FIGS. 12; 13A and 13B; and 14A, 14B, 14C, which present
implementations in which the channels of the network are configured
to penetrate multiple structural levels and are not necessarily
belong to a single carrying level or substrate.
[0094] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates, in a side cutaway view,
an embodiment 1200 of the microfluidic chip in which an individual
channel 1210 (that includes the inlet portion 1210A, the cuvette
portion 1210B, and the outlet portion 1210C) is structured to pass
through at least three structural layers 1220, 1230, and 1240,
operationally integrated one on top of another for proper
photometric measurement. (The side view of the embodiment 1200
shows two channels--1210 configured on the right-hand side of the
chip as shown and the other channel disposed substantially
symmetrically with respect to the channel 1210). In particular, the
cuvette portion 1210B is formed in the upper (as illustrated) layer
1220, defining a fluidic photometry module through which light is
transmitted during the photometric measurement and that is carried
on a mounting surface of the substrate 1230. The inlet portion
1210A leading to the cuvette 1210B, on the other hand, is directed
to penetrate through the fluidic manifold layer 1240 (in directions
parallel and/or transverse to a mounting surface of the layer
1240), the substrate 1230 connected to the mounting surfaces of the
layers 1220, 1230, and at least in part through the layer 1220
where it merges to the cuvette 1210B. Similarly, the outlet portion
1210C of the channel 1210 emerges from the cuvette 1210B to
penetrate through the photometry module layer 1220, the mounting
substrate 1230, and the fluidic manifold layer 1240 on its way to
the main outlet channel (main outlet) 1250 that, in this
embodiment, is common to and shared by multiple constituent fluidic
channels. Before merging to the main outlet 1250, the outlet
portion 1210C is fluidically engaged with the external valve 1260,
which is configured to block the fluid flow through the outlet
portion 1210C when closed, as discussed above. (A Clippard valve
can be used for this purpose in one case, as illustrated.) During
the operable integration of the layers 1220, 1230, 1240, surface
sealing layers such as gasket(s) and/or O-rings can be installed
between the facing-each-other surfaces of these layers to provide
for appropriate fluidic seals.
[0095] FIGS. 13A and 13B provide schematics of a related embodiment
1300. As shown, a constituent channel 1310 includes an inlet
portion 1310A, a cuvette portion 1310B, and an outlet portion
1310C, each of these portions of the channel 1310 formed in at
least one of the structural layers 1320, 1330, and 1340 that are
(optionally, reversibly) integrated with one another through the
sealing layers 1344A, 1344B (such as gaskets, for example). Here,
each constituent channel is complemented with a
respectively-corresponding valve (as shown, the channel 1310 is
cooperated with the valve 1360), which is configured in the fluidic
photometry module or layer 1320. FIG. 13B schematically illustrates
a top view of the fluidic manifold structural layer 1340 of the
chip 1300, with the main, shared by the constituent channels outlet
1350 (optionally leading to a fluid storage volume, not shown).
[0096] FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C illustrate an embodiment 1400
structured by analogy with those of FIGS. 12, 13A, but exhibiting a
single, shared by individual outlet portions of the constituent
channels, main outlet (outlet port) 1450 that is located at least
in part in the photometry module layer 1420. Here, an individual
channel 1410 includes, as before, the inlet portion 1410A disposed
across the structural layers 1420, 1430 (which is a mounting
substrate), and 1440 (which is a fluidic manifold). In a fashion
similar to those of the embodiments 1200, 1300, the structural
layers 1420 and 1440 are shown mounted on the substrate 1430 with
preferably interdisposed surface sealing layers 1444A, 1444B that
ensure lack of leakage of the fluidic sample(s) flowing through
constituent channels of the network of the chip 1400. The
individual channel 1410 also include the cuvette 1410B (carried in
the photometry module layer 1420), and the outlet portion 1410C
passing through at least the layer 1420. The outlet portion of each
of the individual channel of the network of channels is operably
cooperated with a respectively-corresponding valve (one shown as
1460) that fits into a judiciously dimensioned valve port (shown as
1460A) configured in the layer 1420. FIG. 14A schematically
illustrates a top view of the structural layer 1420 of the
embodiment 1400, while FIG. 14C outlines the top view of the
fluidic manifold layer 1440.
[0097] Each of the embodiments 1200, 1300, and 1400 is illustrated
to contain multiple individual channels sharing the main outlet
(optionally fluidly connected with a disposable external storage
volume; not shown). It is understood, however, that a related
implementation (not shown) can be structured to ensure that
individual outlet portions of at least some of the constituent
channels of the microfluidic network chip are directing the flow of
corresponding fluidic sample(s) directly to the external storage
volume and not to the shared main outlet channel portion.
[0098] The operation of any of the embodiments of FIGS. 12, 13A,
14A according to the general principle outlined in connection with
FIG. 11 produced an empirical result already summarized in FIG. 8.
Data presented in FIG. 8 evidence the reduction and/or elimination
of spatial drift of the fluidic sample(s) by temporarily and
reversibly bringing the fluidic sample(s) to a standstill (that is,
stopping and/or restraining and/or spatially stabilizing the
sample(s)) with no air present within the boundaries of the
sample(s) for the duration of a photometric measurement as a result
of causing the sample(s) in fluidic channel(s) to interact with
pressure forces simultaneously applied to opposite ends of such
sample(s) by respectively-corresponding fluidic valve(s) and
auxiliary fluid(s) such as gas. As a result of the implemented
solution, the persisting problems caused to the photometric
measurement in embodiments of related art--that is, the presence of
large modulations of measured intensity values below and/or above
the floor of the measurement, leading to uncertainties of how and
where to average acquired data to obtain physically-correct
results--was solved. As evidenced by FIG. 8, as a result of
implementing an embodiment of the invention not only the abrupt
(see curve portion 820A) but also a continual-in-time drift (see
curve portion 840) of the fluidic sample is substantially
eliminated, leading to increased accuracy and precision of the
now-reliable analytical measurement(s). A skilled artisan will
readily appreciate that, when a specific embodiment of the
invention incorporates a dedicated valve at the output portion of
each of the channels, such incorporation additionally solves the
problem of cross-contamination between the contents of first and
second constituent channels of the network of channels regardless
of which level of fluidic resistance each of such channels
possesses in comparison with other channel(s).
[0099] The understanding of any of the embodiments of FIGS. 12,
13A, 14A (or related embodiments) will be further enhanced upon
considering the principle according to which the fluidic sample of
interest is entered/delivered to the microfluidic chip such as chip
1200, 1300, 1400, for example. To this end, the following
discussion, presented in reference to FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D
and in further reference to FIGS. 9, 10A, 10B, provides additional
insights into the system of the invention and its principle of
operation. FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D illustrate a portion of an
embodiment of the system located upstream with respect to a cuvette
of an individual, constituent channel of the microfluidic chip
(such as the cuvette 910C, for example) and timed operation of this
portion, leading to the filling of the individual cuvette with a
fluidic sample of interest and locking of such sample in place to
eliminate the spatial drift of the sample during the photometric
measurement.
[0100] In particular, FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D schematically
illustrate a "store and forward" well or individual volume 1510,
which is located upstream with respect to and is fluidly connected
with the inlet portion 910A of the individual channel of the
microfluidic chip. Also shown is a multi-way fluidic valve 1520
preceding the will 1510, through which a fluidic connection is
operably established from a pump (as shown by an arrow; for
example, pneumatic pump or stored pressurized gas cylinder,
configured to deliver, in operation of the system, an auxiliary
fluid towards the well 1510 and then towards the cuvette 910C to
form a pressure front 1010) to the well 1510 and further through
the individual channel to the valve 960. The well 1510 is
dimensioned to hold/enclose therein a sample volume required (as
shown in FIG. 10B) for proper operation of an embodiment of the
invention, and has its inlet or aperture 1510A covered by a flap
portion 1510B.
[0101] In one implementation, the flap portion is configured such
as to substantially impenetrably seal the aperture of the well
1510, from inside the well, when the flap 1510B is in a rest
position, see FIG. 15A. In other words, the flap 1510B is
configured to substantially prevent a fluid from
ingressing/egressing the volume of the well 1510 through the
aperture 1510A connecting this volume with the ambient medium. (As
will be understood from the further description, this embodiment of
the well is preferably used with the 2-way version of the valve
1520, as discussed below). In a related embodiment, the flap 1510B
is configured such as to provide for residual fluid seepage or
leaking between the flap and the rims of the aperture 1510A in the
direction from outside of the well 1510 to inside of the well 1510.
(This embodiment is preferably used when the valve 1520 is
configured as a 3-way valve, as shown below.) In either of the
cases, however, the cooperation between the flap 1510B and the
aperture 1510A is mechanically structured to sufficiently restrict
the fluid flow out of the well 1510 and to have the pressure inside
the well build up. The flap 1510B and the aperture 1510A are
mechanically cooperated to ensure that--when the flap is in the
rest position, covering the opening of the aperture to close the
aperture--the residual flow of fluid through the aperture into the
well is greater that the residual flow of fluid through the
aperture out of the well. Generally, the flap 1510B can be
structured as a elastomeric element (deformable within the limits
of elastic deformation of the material of the flap, which may be,
for example, a silicone rubber) or a rigid-material based
spring-loaded flap (optionally complemented with a O-ring gasket
disposed between the rigid flap and the rim of the aperture to
improve sealing between the flap and the well 1510A; not shown). In
the latter case, the spring loading the flap is configured to
operate within the limits of its elastic deformation.
[0102] In operation, a sample of interest 1020 is delivered to the
well 1510 through the aperture 1510A with a use of a pipette 1524
(of a robotic pipette system; not shown) that is judiciously
inserted into the well 1510 through the aperture by forming a
contact between the tip of the pipette 1524 to apply pressure to
and appropriately deflect the flap 1520B, as shown in FIG. 15B.
Before the insertion, the multiway valve 1520 is kept closed to
ensure that no fluidic pressure is delivered from the pump to the
internal volume of the well 1510. Once the tip of the pipette 1524
is in the internal volume of the well 1510, a prescribed amount of
the sample 1020 is added to the well 1510 while, at the same time,
the multi-way valve 1520 is kept closed to block the propagation of
the auxiliary fluid 1528 through the valve 1520 and towards the
volume of the well 1510. Following the disbursement of the sample
1020 into the well 1510, the pipette 1524 is removed from the well
1510 to allow the flap 1510B to assume its rest position and
substantially seal the aperture 1510A.
[0103] Now, in reference to FIG. 15C, the multi-way valve 1520 is
opened to allow the pressurized auxiliary fluid 1528 (such as gas,
for example) pass the valve 1524, fill the well 1510 while pushing
the sample 1020 towards the inlet portion 910A of the individual
microfluidic channel and further drive the sample 1020 into the
cuvette 910C. The numeral 1530 indicates an interface between the
fluid 1528 and the sample 1020, formed in an intermediate portion
of the channel; leading to the cuvette 910C. The propagation of the
fluids 1020, 1528 downstream (i.e., in a direction from the well
1510 towards the cuvette 910C) coincides with and is balanced by
another fluid 1534 present in the system downstream from the
cuvette and passing through the open valve 960.
[0104] In reference to FIG. 15D, once the sample 1020 has filled
the cuvette 910C and has been delivered past the valve 960 while
pushing the fluid 1534 downstream (as was already discussed in
reference to FIG. 10B), the downstream valve 960 is closed to
isolate the sample 1020 in the system. The "pinching" of the fluid
path by the valve 960 prevents the sample 1020 from moving with
respect to the cuvette 910C. At the same time, the upstream
multi-way valve 1520 is partially closed/partially open, as shown
in FIG. 15D, and due to the lack of continued entrance of the fluid
1528 into the system the pressure upstream of the sample drops
substantially to a level of atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, as
discussed above, the multi-way valve may continue to operate to
continually apply the pressure 1010 to the sample 1020 to ensure
the immobilization of the sample with respect to the cuvette and to
store/preserve a level of pressure required for the removal of the
sample from the cuvette upon the completion of the measurement. In
this situation, the following after the photometric measurement
step of removing the sample of the cuvette 910C requires a reduced
amount of fluid 1528. In yet another related embodiment, the flap
1510B can be configured to not completely seal the aperture 1510A
such that, after the valve 960 is closed, the flap seeps or oozes a
bit to allow the fluidic pressure applied to the sample 1020 from
upstream the cuvette to be substantially at an atmospheric pressure
level. Generally, and according to the idea of the invention, a) in
a situation when atmospheric pressure is sufficient to "lock the
fluid sample in the cuvette", the pressure created upstream to move
the fluid in the cuvette can be relieved, while b) when atmospheric
pressure may be insufficient to "lock the fluid sample in the
cuvette" or should the stored gas pressure be used to remove the
fluid sample from the cuvette, the pressure created upstream with
respect to the cuvette is maintained.
[0105] Additional illustrations to the implementation of concepts
of the invention are provided by schematic diagrams of FIGS. 15E,
15F, 15G, and 15H, in which the inlet/outlet portions (such as
those shown as 1560, 1564) of individual microfluidic channels are
shown in solid lines, the cuvette portions (such as 1568) are shown
with circles, the valves (such as 1572) are indicated with
"bow-tie" indicia, and the main outlet channel portions (if
present, such as 1576, delivering measured fluid samples from
individual cuvettes to the common waste storage) are shown with
wide stripe-shaped rectangles. Fluidic resistance of an i-th
portion of a channel is indicated with Ri. In the schematics of
FIGS. 15E and 15F, portions of channels characterized by R.sub.1
are designed to act as capillary valve(s) for the cuvette(s), while
the difference between R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 values is intended to be
and is chosen to be, in practice, substantial enough to ensure that
backflow into any of the channel portions with R.sub.1 is
eliminated (path of least resistance). In the embodiments
structured according to the schematics of FIGS. 15G, 15H, channel
portions with R.sub.1 reduce flow rate (due to, for example,
increased pressure drop that is a function of channel diameter and
length) at any given input pressure, in addition to minimizing a
volume of the sample used for the measurement. This improves the
ability of the system to control the fluid through the valve with
respect to utilizing the act of closing the valve in order to
minimize the used fluid sample volume.
[0106] The operation of the embodiment(s) of the invention has been
validated by photometrically measuring fluidic (blood) sample(s)
contained in identified cuvette portion(s) of the channels and
isolated fluidically from the rest of the system to simultaneously
and independently-for-each-cuvette control the time-variable
processes (assay chemistry) to determine the concentration of
hemoglobin, glucose, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). (Notably, the
ability to control and govern and effectuate transfer of the
fluid(s) through one channel or portion of the channel of the
microfluidic chip independently from the process of transfer
through another channel allows the user of the embodiment of the
invention to carry out different measurements in different cuvettes
at the same time or according to time-overlapping schedules--and
regardless of the nature of the measurements. Different types of
chemical reactions may take different times and may require
different starting and/or processing conditions such as
temperature, for instance. Non-limiting examples of such reactions
are the rate reaction and enzymatic reaction. In case of inability
of an embodiment of the invention to independently control the
timings of delivery/holding/flushing of the samples through the
individual channels, one of these two types of measurements would
not be complete by the time another has already reached its
termination point.)
[0107] The same samples had been previously measured with the use
of conventional clinical laboratory diagnostic equipment
specifically, Abbott Architect c4000). The results of comparison
between these two measurements are presented in FIGS. 16A, 16B, and
16C, where the results of a measurement carried out with
conventional equipment are referred to the x-axes of the plots,
while the results of the measurement with an embodiment of the
present invention are referred to the y-axes of the plots. The
exceptional performance of the system of the invention is evidenced
not only by the substantial linearity of the comparison regardless
of the value of concentration (mg/dL), but also by the fact that
such linear dependencies are represented by straight lines inclined
(with respect to x- or y-axes) by about 45 degrees. A person of
skill in the art will immediately recognize that the coefficient of
variation between the two instruments (or, the results of
measurements conducted with the use of two methodologies) is
substantially equivalent and is well within the values of
experimental errors. The results achieved with the use of the
methods of the present invention are statistically equivalent to
those obtained with conventional equipment, as validated by a third
party.
[0108] To effect the operation of an embodiment of the
above-described IPM system (including the design of a multiplexed
microfluidic chip according to the methodology described above) and
performance of the steps required to acquire and process the
photometric data representing results of the measurements of the
fluid sample(s) passing through an individual cuvette of the IPM
system may require the operation of a processor controlled by
application-specific instructions stored in a tangible memory
element. Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that
required algorithmical functions, operations, and decisions may be
implemented as computer program instructions, software, hardware,
firmware or combinations thereof. Those skilled in the art should
also readily appreciate that instructions or programs defining the
functions and elements of the present invention may be delivered to
a processor in many forms, including, but not limited to,
information permanently stored on non-writable storage media (e.g.
read-only memory devices within a computer, such as ROM, or devices
readable by a computer I/O attachment, such as CD-ROM or DVD
disks), information alterably stored on writable storage media
(e.g. floppy disks, removable flash memory and hard drives) or
information conveyed to a computer through communication media,
including wired or wireless computer networks. In addition, while
the invention may be embodied in software, the functions necessary
to implement the invention may optionally or alternatively be
embodied in part or in whole using firmware and/or hardware
components, such as combinatorial logic, Application Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)
or other hardware or some combination of hardware, software and/or
firmware components.
[0109] Within this specification, embodiments have been described
in a way that enables a clear and concise specification to be
written, but it is intended and will be appreciated that
embodiments may be variously combined or separated without parting
from the scope of the invention. In particular, it will be
appreciated that each of the features described herein is
applicable to most if not all aspects of the invention.
[0110] The invention as recited in claims appended to this
disclosure is intended to be assessed in light of the disclosure as
a whole, including features disclosed in prior art to which
reference is made.
[0111] For the purposes of this disclosure and the appended claims,
the use of the terms "substantially", "approximately", "about" and
similar terms in reference to a descriptor of a value, element,
property or characteristic at hand is intended to emphasize that
the value, element, property, or characteristic referred to, while
not necessarily being exactly as stated, would nevertheless be
considered, for practical purposes, as stated by a person of skill
in the art. These terms, as applied to a specified characteristic
or quality descriptor means "mostly", "mainly", "considerably", "by
and large", "essentially", "to great or significant extent",
"largely but not necessarily wholly the same" such as to reasonably
denote language of approximation and describe the specified
characteristic or descriptor so that its scope would be understood
by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In one specific case, the
terms "approximately", "substantially", and "about", when used in
reference to a numerical value, represent a range of plus or minus
20% with respect to the specified value, more preferably plus or
minus 10%, even more preferably plus or minus 5%, most preferably
plus or minus 2% with respect to the specified value. As a
non-limiting example, two values being "substantially equal" to one
another implies that the difference between the two values may be
within the range of +/-20% of the value itself, preferably within
the +/-10% range of the value itself, more preferably within the
range of +/-5% of the value itself, and even more preferably within
the range of +/-2% or less of the value itself. The term
substantially equivalent is used in the same fashion.
[0112] The use of these terms in describing a chosen characteristic
or concept neither implies nor provides any basis for
indefiniteness and for adding a numerical limitation to the
specified characteristic or descriptor. As understood by a skilled
artisan, the practical deviation of the exact value or
characteristic of such value, element, or property from that stated
falls and may vary within a numerical range defined by an
experimental measurement error that is typical when using a
measurement method accepted in the art for such purposes.
[0113] The disclosed embodiments of the invention discuss specific
examples of isolation of multiple different sample chemistries
within a single connected fluidic network, of design rules for
optimizing physical characteristics of the measurement cuvettes and
fluidic network, of design rules for cuvettes to be repeatedly used
in a fluidic network (including sample loading without air bubbles
and sample flushing without carryover contamination), and of
performing simultaneous photometric measurements of (optionally
multiple) samples at (optionally multiple) wavelengths in a
consolidated package. Modifications to, and variations of, the
illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the
inventive concepts disclosed herein. Furthermore, disclosed
aspects, or portions of these aspects, may be combined in ways not
listed above. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as
being limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). In addition, the
terminology used herein is with the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope
of the present invention.
* * * * *